Foreskin Friendly Physicians

With increasingly large numbers of parents keeping their sons intact today, proper intact care both at home and at the doctor's office is vital. Unfortunately, very few U.S. physicians are trained on the prepuce organ and proper intact care in medical schools across the nation, and as a result, this impacts care during family visits today.

Forced retraction is an epidemic in the United States and some parts of Canada today. This should not be the case. There is ample research currently available for physicians to become fully informed on intact care, and the many myths that surround retraction and circumcision.

We encourage you, as parents, to read up on intact care, retraction, and circumcision. Be well versed in red flags you may see or hear when visiting your local clinic or hospital, and take proactive measures to protect your son.

What is a 'foreskin friendly' physician? This is a medical professional who has taken the time to review current literature on the prepuce, natural male development from infancy to adulthood, and proper care of the penis in its normal state. S/he will not forcibly retract your child or encourage you to do so. S/he knows that the average age of retraction is 10 1/2 years of age, and that some boys do not retract until after puberty. S/he is well aware that the prepuce and glans are organs fused tightly together at birth, and they may or may not loosen in toddlerhood and early childhood on their own. S/he will not tell you to retract or clean, because this physician knows the prepuce is a self-sustaining organ (much like your eyelids, organs that also do not need special 'cleaning'). If issues do arise, the least invasive measure of care will be taken. For example, in the case of a yeast infection, nystatin or a similar ointment would be recommended, not circumcision. In the case of a urinary tract infection, antibiotics would be prescribed, not amputative surgery. Overall, these are physicians who appreciate that the prepuce is not a flawed organ by design, but rather a purposeful and functional one. They are men and women who adhere to a method of practice that benefits even their smallest patient.

An asterisk ( * ) next to a physician's name means that in addition to being a foreskin-friendly care provider, this doctor will not perform circumcision surgery on any healthy infant. This facet of practice is not known of all the physicians on this list.

If you are a 'foreskin friendly' physician, or are a parent who knows of a physician who fits these criteria, drop us an email with contact information at DrMomma.org@gmail.com or leave a comment below to have your practice added. Other parents in your area will thank you!

31 comments:

I'd like for Dr. Cathrine Snivley of Kaiser Gilroy office (California) to be added to this list. She is an amazing doctor and knows her stuff. http://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/provider/catherinesnively#tab|3||Offices%20&%20Directions|/ncal/provider/catherinesnively/offices/?ctab=Offices+&+Directions&to=2

We don't have this problem in Australia. Circumcision is a "trend" that fades in and out, but for the most part, it's not really the "done thing". Still, there's plenty of misinformation out there, which is disappointing.

Any chance of getting a list for Australian doctors? So many boys over here being hurt because these doctors are forcing retraction and being able to know we are going to a doctor that is forskin friendly is important

My intact brother had Dr.Costello as a pediatrician 30+ years ago, and now my son, 11yrs, has him as his doctor. In all of those years, he has shown a full understanding of care for/the natural development of intact boys. I would assume that the whole office is intact friendly, since they also make it a point to be breastfeeding friendly and, overall, very open-minded and progressive.

Dr. Courtney Evans with Kid Care Pediatrics in Kanawha City, WV ( I don't know the address) is our pediatrician and she has been very foreskin friendly. I expressed my concerns early with her and she has never once tried to retract. She's also accepting of selective vaccination which is always a plus. I don't recommend the other doctors in her office though seeing as one of them retracted my newborn, only Dr. Evans.

Dr Shelly Mills out of Defiance, Ohio is NOT foreskin knowledgeable. I have taken my then 7 month old to her in the past couple of months and she retracted my son, even after I told her we left our previous pediatrician due to forced retraction and that I do not want him retracted. She even suggested that I get him circumcised, but that they don't do that until they are after a year old if we miss the opportunity when they are newborn. She seemed quite puzzled when I very adamantly said I will NOT mutilate my son. I have sent reading material to her and will give her one more and one last chance to educate herself.

Dr. Kristen Lerberg Family MedicineMayo Clinic Health Systems700 West Avenue South La Crosse, WI 54601She also does obstetrics and pre-natals - she delivered my second son and was awesome. We have two intact boys and she's been great with both of them.

While Dr. Cox is a family physician, and not a pediatrician, he is wonderful with babies and children. (And he's been my doctor since I was a child. He also happens to be a family friend.) His office provides health care for the entire family, and his female associates and physician's assistants also provide basic GYN care.

Dr. Cox is intact-friendly, a huge breastfeeding advocate, (his office is a drop-off spot for the Austin Mother's Milk Bank!) and encourages attachment parenting. He's also a big believer in holistic care.

Desperately seeking a "foreskin friendly" urologist who will see a 15 year old boy. Dr. M. David Gibbons was our hope, but his office refuses to see our boy, which has left us completely lost as to where to turn. We need a "foreskin friendly" urologist in the DC/NOVA/Southern Maryland area who is covered by our insurance. Running out of hope here.

I would be honored to be included on your list of foreskin-friendly doctors. I'm a family medicine doctor and board certified lactation consultant in Portland, OR, specializing in women's and children's health. Some of my favorite things to support families with include well child/well woman care, preconception planning, fertility awareness and assessment (basal body temperature charting and other methods), and prenatal/postpartum care with an emphasis on breastfeeding families but supporting all families to make the choices that are right for them. I do not perform circumcision and specifically declined to train in this procedure during residency; I have, however, observed many of these procedures over the course of my training in order to be able to better counsel families about the procedure and its possible complications, or to help evaluate complications and concerns if families have had the procedure done elsewhere.

I'm confused... Why are some American doctors attempting to retract the foreskin? The doctors here in Scotland don't even look at the foreskin of a baby, never mind retracting it. What are these doctors trying to do? Are they looking for something hiding under there? Its bizarre.

We saw Dr. Allen after my son was diagnosed with VUR (bladder reflux). The doctor we saw at the hospital was awful, and immediately recommended a circumcision and forced retraction. I went to Dr. Allen in the hopes that he would be more respectful of our wishes regarding keeping our son intact. He was more than respectful. He actually agreed with us that foreskin is not a pathology and that there is no reason to routinely circumcise or forcibly retract. Even his examination of my son was respectful, and he made no attempt to retract him. I cannot sing his praises enough. He was kind, respectful, and knowledgeable. I never dreamed I would find a pediatric urologist who would support our decision to leave our son intact.

Your question was posted here for Intact Florida audiences: https://www.facebook.com/INTACTFL/posts/718126468245272You may also want to check out FL's list if you haven't already: http://www.drmomma.org/2007/03/florida-foreskin-friendly-physicians.htmlAnd connect with the Intact Florida group too: www.FB.com/groups/IntactFL